Roane County, West Virginia

Founding: 1856
Parent counties: Gilmer, Jackson, and Kanawha

Namesake: Spencer Roane, Virginia politician
Seat: Spencer (1856–)

Land area: 484 square miles

Population (2020): 14,028

Population (historic): 5,381 (1860); 12,184 (1880); 19,852 (1900); 19,478 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1860–1910; 1930s; 1970s; 1990s

Subdivisions: One city; one town

National Register listings: Six

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,473 (19.8%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 34.8%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 3.2%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 21.9%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 17.7%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $969
Average outbuilding value (1930): $438
Average farmhouse size (1940): 5.5 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,448
Average farm size (1920): 78.4 acres
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Spencer

Namesake: Spencer Roane, Virginia politician

Founding: 1856 (founding as New California); 1858 (post office); 1858 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 2,062

Population (historic): 196 (1860); 226 (1880); 737 (1900); 2,493 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1860; 1870–1960; 1970s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 391 (32.3%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. *House (c. 1890). 2842 Hollywood Road. Italianate/Eastlake.
2. *Albert Heck House (1925). 54 Hospital Drive. Classical Revival.
3. *House (c. 1885). 4322 Tariff Road.
4. *Farm (c. 1890). 694 Maple Run Road.
5. *House (c. 1890). 1069 Reedyville Road. Italianate.
6. *Billings House (c. 1900). 2222 Reedyville Road. Queen Anne.
7. *Farm (c. 1925). 48 Stringtown Road. Spanish Revival.